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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Supervisor: Edward J. Buskey. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Po-210 and Pb-210 are particle-reactive natural radionuclides which can be removed from seawater by their incorporation with various particulate materials, resulting in radioactive disequilibria with respect to their parent nuclides. Previous studies showed that Po-210/Pb-210 activity ratio in surface seawater ranges from about 0.2 to 1 due to atmospheric input of Pb-210 and effects of biological productivity and upwelling. In order to evaluate the effects of plankton on Po-210 and Pb-210 distributions, plankton samples were collected by surface-trawling of plankton net in Taiwanese water. These plankton samples were analyzed for Po-210 and Pb-210 in order to obtain their concentrations and activity ratio, which may indicate the enrichment or discrimination of these nuclides in the marine planktonic phase around Taiwan. The results show that the Po-210/Pb-210 activity ratio of planktonic samples ranges from 23.06 to 51.40 in northeastern Taiwan, whereas the activity ratio in southwest Taiwan varies within and outside of the sampleing locations: stations 1, 2, 3 and 4 yield range of 10.72-43.90, 16.40-47.87, 13.86-23.37 and 9.35-13.82, respectively. Two marine algae (Sargassum polycystum C.Agardh and Hypnea charoides Lamouroux) yield values of 2.24-8.57, and 3.72-5.96, respectively. These Po-210/Pb-210 activity ratios are much greater than unity, and their activities comparison to those of inorganic particulates support the contention that the plankton preferentially incorporates Po-210 but discriminates against Pb-210. However, the mechanism or process of Po-210 to be incorporated in the plankton remains unclear. In comparison of the activities between Po-210 and Pb-210 in organic particulates, one finds that Po-210 is effectively enriched while Pb-210 is clearly discriminatied by the organic particulates. These results are consistent with those reported in literatures.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--College of William and Mary. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--M.I.T., Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1979. / Supervised by S. Honjo. Bibliography: p. 110-119.

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-169). Description: 169 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

The role of heterotrophic bacteria in the carbon and nitrogen flux of the pelagic food web was investigated during laboratory and field-based studies of the temporal development of the planktonic community after upwelling. Bacterial community structure, activity and production were closely coupled to the upwelling cycle and to the dynamics of the phytoplankton community. The initial bacterial population (<l x 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, 20 to 40 μg C l⁻¹) was metabolically dormant. Increased availability of phytosynthetically produced dissolved organic carbon (PDOC) stimulated bacterial growth (0.016 h⁻¹) and abundance (8 to 10 x 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, 140 to 200 μg C l⁻¹). Rapid successions in the dominant plateable strains were attributed to substrate preferences and substrate availability. Significant correlations of bacterial biomass with total standing stocks of phytoplankton and particulate carbon provided evidence of close coupling between bacteria and PDOC, and between bacteria and recalcitrant substrates available during phytoplankton decay. These relationships were best described by power functions, suggesting that bacterial biomass was relatively reduced at high levels by predation. A microcosm study indicated that zooflagellate predation could control bacterial biomass. Low net growth yields (34 to 36%) of flagellates suggested inefficient transfer of carbon to higher trophic levels, but considerable nitrogen regeneration (ca 6 to 7 μg N mg dry weight⁻¹ h⁻¹). Thymidine-measured bacterial production (TTI, <0.1 to 1.25 mg C m⁻³ h⁻¹) was linearly related to phytoplankton growth. Non-uniform response of bacteria to added tracer substrates may result in underestimates of bacterial production by 2 to 34 times by TTI, particularly in deep or oligotrophic waters, or during phytoplankton decay. Close coupling of copepod (Calanoides carinatus) production to the upwelling cycle suggested co-existence of the microbial food web and the classical diatom-copepod food chain. Recently upwelled water was dominated by phytoplankton. Assuming that all phytoplankton carbon was available for utilisation, copepods and bacteria were calculated to consume approximately 12 and 22% of primary production respectively. As the bloom declined the planktonic community was increasingly dominated by bacteria, detritus and mesozooplankton. On average, copepods consumed 60% of primary production, while bacteria consumed 49%. Carbon consumption requirements of both bacteria and copepods were satisfied by resource partitioning and carbon cycling. Under food-limiting conditions herbivorous copepods may switch to omnivory, ingesting microzooplankton of the microbial food web, and stimulating enhanced remineralisation to further sustain primary production. A generic size-based simulation model of the dynamics of the plankton community indicated that bacteria and the microbial food web increase the overall productivity of the planktonic food web, and that heterotroph predation in the smaller size classes (<200 μm) is an important mechanism in nutrient recycling.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 267-316).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 2005.. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 13, 2006). Includes three articles co-authored with Sebastian Diehl. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Planktonic organisms form the base of the marine food web and may be impacted by environmental change in many ways. The interactive effects of multiple, simultaneous climate-driven changes on these organisms are not well understood. This dissertation examined the impacts of ocean acidification in combination with other environmental stressors on marine plankton and determined spatial patterns of one of these potential interactive drivers. Chapter 2 investigated the synergistic effects of ocean acidification and hypoxia on the harmful dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae. Findings indicated that empirical studies may be crucial to accurately predict organismal responses to multi-stressors. Results also suggested that photorespiration may serve a previously unrecognized role in dinoflagellate metabolism. Chapter 3 examined the combined effects of ocean acidification and lithogenic trace metals on the growth of another harmful dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides. Results indicated that high suspended sediment loads may deliver toxic concentrations of trace elements to marine phytoplankton in acidified coastal ecosystems. Chapter 4 examined the interactive effects of ocean acidification and bacteria on the severity and extent of dissolution in the shells of larval gastropods and the adult pteropod Limacina helicina. Research findings indicated that microbial communities on the shell surfaces of some planktonic molluscs may mediate certain types of shell dissolution in acidified, upwelled waters. Chapter 5 explored the use of thorium isotope fluxes as a proxy for dust and lithogenic iron in the Indian Ocean. Results suggested that the gradient of dust fluxes in the region could impose thresholds for biological productivity. Together, these interdisciplinary studies demonstrate coupled biological and chemical changes in marine ecosystems as a result of increased anthropogenic environmental change.